The Buzz

MSNBC's "The Savage Nation," a talk show starring conservative Michael Savage, has the National Organization for Women and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation protesting and calling for an advertiser boycott. So far Procter & Gamble, Kraft Foods, Idea Village and Casual Male have withdrawn. Cathy Renna, GLAAD's media director, says NBC News was muzzling certain statements by Savage and his callers during his debut. "They fear that, without these controls, he will revert to the ... inflammatory diatribes targeting minorities upon which he built his reputation," Renna says. Direct ads for Dell Computer, Sharper Image, Chef Wizard and Finishing Touch did run. "The show is not in jeopardy," said an MSNBC spokesman, who confirmed six advertisers pulled out. "It will air this weekend and there will be advertisers."

James Truman, Conde Nast's editorial director, is a busy man. Not only is he overseeing the men's version of shopping magazine Lucky, he's also interviewing candidates to replace Art Cooper, GQ's editor in chief. Truman has eight candidates lined up and expects to name a successor in the last week of March. He declined to identify any, but insiders say the list includes GQ executive editors Jim Nelson and Michael Hainey, and VH1 Senior VP Michael Hirschorn. The disavowals to his staff aside, Rodale's Men's Health Dave Zinczenko can't be ruled out. AdAge.com QwikFIND aao51c